African American Birth HERstory Traditions

4/26/2019 Comments

Building Bridges between Black Women MAKING A CHOICE and Those ANSWERING A CALL to Birth Work

"For the women who are called to the work, do not dismiss, disregard or discount those who CHOSE the work. For the women who choose the work, do not dismiss, discount or disregard those who are CALLED to the work. We each have something to bring to each other. The question is are we going to be open to receive that from each other." ~ Nikia Lawson, MA, BSW, CD/BDT(DONA)

From my earliest observations of Nikia's work through her online presence, I noticed that she was a Change Maker. She was not standing around waiting for things to change, she was making the change happen through her birth profession and her influence in birth culture.

Nikia Lawson is the Owner of Birth Blessings Professional Birth Services. She has been a birth trainer for DONA International for a decade and currently sits on DONA's board as the Western Membership Director. Additionally, Nikia is the Founder and Program Director of The Natural Way Birthing Project, and a Co-Owner of Two Sisters Circle, doula training focused on culturally relevant and advanced trainings that "support birth workers in building solid networks, growing business acumen and maximizing impact on communities served by doulas."

Nikia and I had a very interesting conversation about Black women's re-entry into birth work. While Black women represent an educated demographic within society, many are entering birth work from a call or a heart or spiritual place. I hear from women frequently that are responding to "a call" to enter birth work as a result of the way that Black women's maternal mortality rates are being publicized. Nikia makes a distinction between the choice to pursue birth work and the call to pursue birth work in order to take Black women's influence in birth culture to the next level.

Nikia describes the 'next level' as Black women being positioned to help Black birthing mothers access available resources within communities, but not at the cost of becoming a martyr who has nothing left give. She stresses the importance of Black women having women that look and sound like them, while also knowing how to navigate available resources so that they can have the best opportunities for positive birth outcomes.

Nikia expressed this gratitude: “Thank you to all those who have trusted me with their birth journey, those who have invested in me for their introduction to the work I hold dear to my heart and to those who will become my legacy in the birth industry.”

I would love to know your thoughts on our discussion about the difference between THE CHOICE and THE CALL. What inspires your birth work toward Black women? Do you see your birth work as A CHOICE or A CALL?

P.S. Nikia had some overlap in her schedule and life happened as it often does, so she was on the move. Buckle up! She literally takes us on a ride! For those wondering what a day in the life of a doulaing, entrepreneuring, world changing single mom can look like, you will get a glimpse in this interview.

Listen to the Podcast:

Here are some ways to connect with Nikia and find out about her training dates:

Phone: 8172312672
Email: DoulaBirthBlessings@yahoo.com
Website: https://www.TwoSistersCircle.com/
Non-Profit Website: http://TheNaturalWayBP.org/
Facebook: Doula Birth Blessings
Non-Profit : The Natural Way Birthing Project~Ft. Worth
LinkedIn: Nikia Lawson

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4/19/2019 Comments

A Car... A Birthing Mom... A "Doula" Dad... And a Baby that Wouldn't Wait!

"I felt stuck... I couldn't move... I felt restricted and no one was holding me... My 'fear' was of being restrained again... I didn't want to 'feel' tied down... because I felt like if I could get up, I could do better... I could do so much better... I wanted FREEDOM..." ~ Christy Willis aka "Doula Mom"

Christy Willis aka ¨Doula Mom¨ and I knew each other years before either of us committed ourselves to birth work, while we were both primarily focusing on homeschooling our children. Since that time, she has birthed several new humans into the world and we have had the opportunity to partner together to offer birth and postpartum services.

I have always been impressed with Christy as a mother and wife, still I have become even more impressed with her as I watch her expand her influence in birth culture and fill in the gaps she is observing in the care that is provided to birthing women and the doulas who serve them. She has developed a Virtual Doula Course for doulas desiring to extend their reach and ability to support women during the childbearing year via technology. Additionally, Christy has designed a Doula Business Journal that allows doulas to manage the unique challenges they face as birth workers and set goals for their businesses.

Dr. Doula & Doula Mom

In this blogpost, Christy is sharing her birth stories. She has very dynamic birth stories - from the hospital to a driveway to the comfort of her own home. And I believe they will provide additional insights for those who are seeking to know more about how to navigate their birth options.

Topics Discussed:

Initial thoughts about home birth
Experiences with birth in the hospital
Medicated vs unmedicated births
Whose "comfort" matters in birth
Male partners in the birth space
Choosing the best birth support for you
Dealing with fear in the birthing space
Apprehensions about home birth
Breaking up with your OB
The roar of the LIONESS
Virtual Doula Services to support women
The Doula Business Journal

Listen to the Podcast:

You can connect with Doula Mom to learn about her upcoming workshops and the work she is doing. She also has a Facebook group.

Phone: 7088725695
Email: Doulamom24@gmail.com
Website: https://doulabusiness.weebly.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/doulasformoula
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doula_moula/
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/doulasformoula
Facebook Group: Doula-Moula

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4/10/2019 Comments

A Candid Conversation with a Historian & Herbalist of Southern Black Midwife Traditions

"What we throw away, somebody picks up, repackages it, and sells it to you and then you want to buy it... Your assimilation and throwing away of your culture does not help you and you end up being lost." ~ Divine Bailey-Nicholas

From the moment this interview began, I knew that it would be special. The southern girl in me instantly felt a connection with Divine Bailey-Nicholas and the knowledge and experiences she was sharing. Before we ever talked about herbalism, our conversation revolved more around the rich Black culture of the South, how it developed and the importance of its legacy to our longevity as Black people and Black birth in this country.

Divine is the creator of Grandma's Hands Pregnancy and Postpartum Herbs & Nutrition in the Southern Tradition, a "6 week Online Course Focusing on the Herbs and Healing Modalities Historically used by Black Southern Midwives." She is not only a birth worker and herbalist, but also a repository of Southern history explaining ways that southern birth and postpartum traditions have influenced various aspects of broader Black culture and even the Black church in previous generations.

This extensive interview with Divine is divided into two parts. In the first part, Divine provides historical context for southern Black culture, which is important to fully embrace the historical context of birth among Diasporic Africans in the U.S. In the second part, she shares about herbs and how you can develop a healing relationship with plants around you.

Topics discussed:

The connection between northern and southern traditions in Black communities
Considering "the branches" of your family
Our history and Black culture in plain sight
Protecting the legacy of Black midwives
The similarities in the diversity of Black American Culture
Valuing others cultures more the we value our own culture
The intermingling of religion and Black birth culture
The value of the south to the African American’s story and honoring Southern traditions
The herbalist as a healer
BEING in your community and NOT BEING a Savior
RE-MEMBERING who you are
The danger of revisioning YOUR OWN history
How Black Birth workers are viewed in their communities
How to SURVIVE and THRIVE as a Black birth worker in Black Communities
The need for cultural competency within Black communities

Listen to the Podcast:

You can connect with Divine to learn about her current workshops and the work she is doing:

Website: https://www.divinebirthwisdom.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DivineBirthWisdom/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/divinebirthwisdom/
Non-profit: http://communitybirthcompanion.org/

Comments

What are YOU waiting for to start learning about how to care for women during the childbearing year? Whether you are considering a career in birthwork, want to learn to help your family and friends or desire to be a resource for your community, "10 THINGS" is your starting place! Learn from from a Black historical perspective... learn from "someone who looks like you"... STOP WAITING... START LEARNING RIGHT NOW!

The voices of Black women have long been censored and/or edited. These conversations with Dr. Doula are an opportunity for Black women to share their truths and experiences in birth and birth culture in their own voices.

In other words, "She said what she said..."

When we help Birth HERstories we are acknowledging the BLACK BIRTH RENAISSANCE that is happening around the world! When we share our stories, practices, or traditions from women of African descent in America, we help preserve Black Birth HERstory. It is our responsibility as descendants of African women who were trafficked to the U.S. to hold their stories and know their practices, so that we are able to continue their tradition of being self-reliant and self-sustaining as communities of Black women.

Dr. Doula

My work is informed by my background – experiences, expertise, exposure, education & environment – as a woman, mother, wife, sister, educator, researcher, scholar, advocate, birth ally and legacy builder. #IAmTheAnswer #WeSaveOurselves
(Please note that the information shared on this blog is for information purposes only. Pregnant women should consult their PCP before following any practices found within the Birth HERstory Series Blog.)

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Birth HERstory Blog

Building Bridges between Black Women MAKING A CHOICE and Those ANSWERING A CALL to Birth Work

A Car... A Birthing Mom... A "Doula" Dad... And a Baby that Wouldn't Wait!

A Candid Conversation with a Historian & Herbalist of Southern Black Midwife Traditions

"What we throw away, somebody picks up, repackages it, and sells it to you and then you want to buy it... Your assimilation and throwing away of your culture does not help you and you end up being lost." ~ Divine Bailey-Nicholas

Dr. Doula

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